@article{evans_netiffee-osborne_webb_jay_flammer_2009, title={Assessment of the Microbial Quality of Water Offered to Captive Psittacine Birds}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1082-6742"]}, DOI={10.1647/2008-017R.1}, abstractNote={To investigate potential water-source microbes, 44 samples of water offered to individually caged psittacine birds were aseptically collected from 14 bird-owning households and evaluated for the presence of coliforms, Escherichia coli, heterotrophic bacteria, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. No samples were positive for E coli; however, 21 of 25 water samples (84%) from open containers and 7 of 19 samples (37%) from bottles exceeded US Environmental Protection Agency standards for coliforms. Fourteen of 24 open containers (58%) and 7 of 19 bottles (37%) grew heterotrophic bacteria that exceeded 500 colonies/ml. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from water samples from 1 open container and 1 bottle. These results suggest that potentially pathogenic bacteria can be found in water offered to companion psittacine birds. Additional studies are needed to assess whether these bacteria are clinically important causes of disease and to develop husbandry methods that will reduce contamination.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF AVIAN MEDICINE AND SURGERY}, author={Evans, Erika E. and Netiffee-Osborne, Julie and Webb, Donna and Jay, Paula and Flammer, Keven}, year={2009}, month={Mar}, pages={10–17} }
 @article{evans_wade_flammer_2008, title={Administration of doxycycline in drinking water for treatment of spiral bacterial infection in cockatiels}, volume={232}, ISSN={["0003-1488"]}, DOI={10.2460/javma.232.3.389}, abstractNote={Abstract Objective —To determine efficacy of providing drinking water medicated with doxycycline for treatment of spiral bacterial infection in cockatiels. Design —Randomized controlled clinical trial. Animals —18 cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) naturally infected with spiral bacteria. Procedures —Spiral bacterial infection was diagnosed by means of cytologic examination of swab specimens from the choana and oropharynx. Eleven birds (treatment group) were given drinking water to which doxycycline hyclate had been added at a concentration of 400 mg/L for 30 days; the remaining 7 birds (control group) were given unmedicated water. After completion of the study, 6 control birds were treated with drinking water medicated with doxycycline for 21 days. Results —Daily mean plasma doxycycline concentration for birds in the treatment group ranged from 2.26 to 2.86 Mg/mL (overall range, 0.83 to 4.34 Mg/mL). All treated birds were negative for spiral bacteria after treatment for 21 days and remained negative when examined 160 days after treatment ended. Control birds remained positive for spiral bacteria. Control birds treated with doxycycline after completion of the study were negative for spiral bacteria after treatment for 21 days and 30 days after treatment ended. No clinically important adverse effects were associated with treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance —Results suggested that providing drinking water to which doxycycline had been added at a concentration of 400 mg/L was effective in eliminating spiral bacterial infections in cockatiels.}, number={3}, journal={JAVMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION}, author={Evans, Erika E. and Wade, Laura L. and Flammer, Keven}, year={2008}, month={Feb}, pages={389–393} }